College Move-In/ DNC Rambling

I have OFFICIALLY moved back to Charlotte for school! Am I excited?? Ehhhhhh...

I love the layout of my new dorm though! 

Everyone has their OWN bedroom, Praise GOD.

There are 2 bathrooms! (2 ppl per bathroom) Thank you Jesus.

Kitchen, living room, AND we have a washer and dryer.

Amen.

The DNC has Charlotte on LOCK though. The day that I moved in (Saturday) there were police EVERYWHERE. They have them walking the streets in groups, the police were escorting buses past the stadium checking them to make sure there are no bombs on them, they aren't playing ANY GAMES. Consequently, I'm not in Charlotte at the moment; I'm currently visiting the boyfriend and the in-laws. I know yall are thinking, "WHAT IS WRONG WIT YOU?! WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANNA BE DOWN THERE DURING THIS TIME?!" I do.

 But in all honesty, I'm not in to politics. I WILL vote [for Obama] but as for all the rallies and parades and stuff? *shakes head* 

*bows down to her arms*

I watched our first lady's speech last night and damn near CRIED. Hahaha! Everything she said about living the "American Dream" and knowing what it's like to be in a position that many of us are in at this moment is true. And it's comforting to know that we have people in office that actually KNOW what it's like to grow up middle-lower middle class because they know what we're dealing with. 
What blew my mind was her hair though, cause it was killing me softly, on some real stuff. Her hair was ON. POINT. She is so elegant; it makes me wonder why girls/women don't look up to her more. 
 Can we get a round of applause for her arms & body though?? *standing ovation*
Baddest first lady in the game!

Anywhooz...

This is an age where women can sit down and give you a play by play on Love and Hip-Hop and Honey Boo Boo, but don't even know that the DNC is happening, or even WHAT the DNC is! It's sad to think that girls would more quickly look up to Nicki Minaj than to Gabrielle Douglass...it's disgusting, actually.

One day, I was in Walmart checking out and my niece (she's 12) saw a magazine with one of the chicks from 16 and Pregnant on it and was like, "Ooo!" And you know I picked up the one with my girl Gabby Douglass on the cover and I was like, "Yo, this girl is my idol!" and my niece was like, 

*sucks teeth* "Ain't nobody worried about her"

I said, "What the hell did you just say??" LMAO. I was mad offended, but anyway...

As a people, we REALLY need to get it together. There are people setting these ridiculous examples of what women and girls should be/act like and they're actually feeding into it! Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, the chicks on 16 & Pregnant, Bad Girls Club, Love & Hip-Hop to name a few...they're portraying images that makes me worry about what these girls midsets are. All this fighting, being slutty, getting pregnant...NONE of these are mistakes anymore! Girls are losing their virginity younger and younger..and it's NOT because they aren't being given "the talk" because, "the talk" is basically everywhere you LOOK. Every Trey Songz music video is the damn "talk!" What girls nowadays need are positive role models to look up to, and if you're allowing your kid to look up to Nicki Minaj and the chicks on the Bad Girls Club..then maybe you need to evaluate yourself as well.

*shrugs*

HAPPY LIVING!

Yum Yums: Quick and Easy Veggie Fritatta

One of my best friends and my niece were staying at my house and I was running out of breakfast ideas, FAST. I had just gone produce shopping the day before so my fridge was STOCKED with vegetables for me to use. We had a dozen and a half carton of eggs and some cheese, so I decided to make a fritatta! Now, I've never made a fritatta...but I DO believe that this came out freakin AMAZING. I honestly wished that I had made another one.

 For this recipe, you don't HAVE to use fresh vegetables. I know how difficult it is to find produce at reasonable prices, ESPECIALLY when you're on a budget. Frozen vegetables will do just fine, but one thing I'll recommend is after sauteing is to pour out any extra liquid they may extract. 

You can use anything you want in your fritatta, the possibilities are practically ENDLESS.

Don't get TOO crazy w/ the creativity and start throwin uncooked rice and oatmeal and stuff in there cause uhhhh...ew.

One thing I was thinking about, for us busy [college] folk, would be to make this sometime on Sunday, let it cool, cut it and place it in either individual Ziplocs or small Tupperware containers and freezing them so that when you're in a rush, or on the go in the morning, you can just heat up a slice in the microwave and be on your way!

Veggie Fritatta

Serves 3-6
Prep Time: 10-15 mins
Cook Time: 10-15 mins

1/4 of a large Onion, small dice

4 cloves of Garlic, minced

3 c. Fresh Spinach, washed, sauteed and chopped

2 c. Fresh Broccoli Florets, washed and blanched

1 Red Bell Pepper, small dice

2 Fresh Basil Leaves, chiffonade

1/4 tsp Red Pepper flakes

2 tbsp Canola Oil

5 Eggs, beaten 

1/2 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

3 slices of tomato

1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Preheat broiler on High

1. Heat a medium sized iron cast skillet over medium heat, add oil. Add vegetables and red pepper flakes and saute' until broccoli is fully cooked.
2. Add the cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to your eggs and whisk until fully incorporated. Add eggs to the skillet and allow it to cook for about 2 mins, or until it is halfway done.
3. Place the tomato slices on top, and then sprinkle the cheese over the entire fritatta.
4. Place fritatta in the oven and bake until cheese is melted.
5. Remove from the oven and enjoy!

*IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BROIL SETTING IN YOUR OVEN: Right after you place your eggs in the pan, add the tomatoes and cheese and bake in the oven at 350 F for 5 mins, or until egg is cooked.

HAPPY EATING! =D

Yum Yums: Chicken Fricassee

So I decided to try out this Chicken Fricassee I saw on this blog that I follow called Nibble Me This and it came out BANGIN!!

Check him out, he has some pretty good recipes! 

I did change a few things in terms of preparation and ingredients, so you can look and compare and choose which one you wish to follow!

5 Chicken leg quarters, separated ( will result in 5 legs and 5 thighs)

1 tbsp Kosher Salt

1/2 tbsp Black Pepper

1 tbsp Onion Powder

1/2 tbsp Cayenne Pepper

2 tbsp Canola/ Vegetable Oil

1 Can Chicken Broth
2 c. Vegetable Broth

1 head of Garlic, minced

1/2 onion, small dice
1 red bell pepper, small dice
3 slices of bread, cubed ( I honestly just used some hot dog rolls since we didn't have any bread.)
3 leave Fresh Basil, rough chop
1 tsp Fresh Rosemary, rough chop
1/2 tsp Fresh Thyme, rough chop
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 c. cream
Salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven 350 F

1. Rinse off the legs & thighs and pat dry. Season thoroughly with salt, pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper. 
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (if the oil is smoking, it's too hot). Making sure the skin is fully covering the meat, place about 3 pieces of chicken in the pan to sear at a time. Make sure that you hear a loud sizzle when you place the pieces in because you want to form a nice brown color on the skin. Sear the chicken on each side an set aside on a sheet tray lined with a sheet rack. 
3. Once all chicken is seared, finish in oven for about 10-15mins or until thigh reads 165F.
4. In the same pan, on medium heat, saute onions, garlic and pepper for about 2 mins. Stir in the bread until it is all generously covered in oil/fat. Add chicken broth and, using a whisk or wooden spoon, scrape of the bottom of the pan to lift off the fond- little brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan from searing. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. 
5. Whisk the mixture so that the bread breaks up, but leaves no visible lumps. Add the veg stock and allow it to simmer until it's thickened. Once thickened, after about 5 mins,  stir in basil, rosemary, thyme, red pepper flakes and cream. 
6. Taste your sauce, and adjust seasonings to your liking.
7. Add all chicken back to the pan and allow to simmer for another 3 mins.
8. ENJOY!

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe as much as I did! I was surprised at how unbelievably delicious this was...just thinking about it has me starving! 

HAPPY EATING!

No More Store Brought Hair Products

I've made the decision to try and shy away from as many store brought hair products as possible due to the fact that I had a significant allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner. 

When I tell you, I was soo upset at this cause Cantu was my MAIN staple product before I went off to NC. I don't know if they've changed their ingredients or not but I used my new bottle of Cantu on my twists, like always, but for some reason my cheeks and my hairline broke out, and my scalp would be itching like CRAZY. 

The next time I twisted my hair, I used regular shea butter and had no breakout. 

Since I've cut that product, along with countless others, I've found that my skin has been clearing up. 

Right now, I only use Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap to cleanse my scalp, baking soda to scrub occasionally, Suave Tropical Coconut conditioner, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Milk, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Juice/Gel, Mayonnaise, Eggs and Flax Seed Gel.

I believe that less is more when it comes to my hair- it doesn't like too much product and I find that it responds best to things in their natural form. Using all-natural products/ ingredients has also been beneficial to my super sensitive skin. I am very acne prone and it seems like the smallest change in my regimen will break me out.

Right side

Left side

I've decided to do KinkyCurlyCoilyMe's Castor Oil Challenge for the fall to grow my edges back, because they've been thinning ALOT and I aint tryna be on no Naomi Campbell stuff...

(No she didn't)

Yes I did. LOL

Once I begin the challenge I will keep you guys posted.

Stay blessed!

=)

FIT: My body as of 8/27/2012

BUST: 34 1/2"

WAIST: 28"

HIPS: 39"

WEIGHT: 143.3lbs

My last measurement post

 My goal to maintain has been successful!!

I lost some hips though...no bueno. =, / 

..but at least my abs are rockin ;)

My diet has been mostly the same...with the addition of some occasional cheats. 
I still basically eat everything I want to, I just incorporate more vegetables and fruits into my day. I don't drink soda, AT ALL. I don't eat fast food, except the occasional Wendy's, Chic-fil-a or Subway.

When I make my plate, half of the plate is vegetables, 1/4 starch and 1/4 meat. 
I also eat all of my vegetables before I move on to the starch and protein.
I incorporate fruits and vegetables in to EVERY meal, including breakfast. I recently made a Veggie Fritatta that was freakin delicious! I plan on having that recipe to you guys soon.

 Making sure I eat a variety of fruits and vegetables has been helpful in terms of digestive health & bathroom-going. [T.M.I?]

My next diet goal is giving up white breads/ pastas, gearing towards more whole grain choices. I also plan on giving up refined sugar and flour. 
Wish me [add my wallet] luck!!

HAPPY HEALTH!!!

Don't have a gym near you?? No problem!

Away from school I have NO access to a gym, so the fact that these workouts are so readily available on FB makes life SO much easier. I was really worried about gaining all of my weight back over the summer, but I've been able to maintain doing these in conjunction with the daily workouts I've previously posted.

This first workout kicks my freakin BUTT. 

By the 3rd set, I'm usually like FORGET THIS!! 

But then I think about my goal of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and I continue to push myself. I find that stretching in between sets makes it a little easier to bear and helps to reduce sore muscles the next day. 

This next one isn't really a workout, just a series of moves you can add to any workout you're doing. I usually do 3 reps of each. I add these moves to the Monday and Thursday workouts.














This last one is my absolute favorite cause it's such a challenge! I usually do it when I'm watching Dr.Oz...lol. I've been able to complete it before the show comes back, but when I first started doin it, it was definitely a challenge! I encourage all of you to attempt this, you'll find that it actually isn't hard at all! How to do a burpee
How to do a Russian Twist 

HAPPY HEALTH!

Self Inspiration: Bullying

I haven't done an inspirational post in a long time. 

Even though I've, personally, never gone through any type of bullying like this, I know how bullying can hurt.

 I've only been bullied twice, in elementary school, and it was this guy that kept calling me ugly and a lesbian..and even though I didn't even know what a lesbian was(I was like, 7 -__-) it still hurt.

 And the second time was my "friend" <--the quotations are there for a reason

Shaniqua's friend who use to tease me about my clothes. Alot of the time, I would just try to not chill wit them but it'd be hard cause when I was stuck hanging out wit them,  she'd always have something to say about what i was wearing. I would always think to myself, like..what is her problem?? I don't say or do anything to this girl so WHY does she insist on bothering me? 

She would call me fat, tell me my clothes were ugly and I'd be like 0_O Why are you talkin to me? lol

First of all, she was ugly. Second of all, even though I was fat too, she was fatter than me soooo.....

Now that I'm older, I realize that she may have had some insecurities that she was dealing with so she decided to take it out on somebody that ultimately wouldn't do anything about it. Although her and that other boys' bullying didn't fully affect me, I do believe that they may have caused the little bit of insecurity that I have had throughout the years. 

One thing I've learned is that through God, everything is possible.  

Without Him, there is no me and He's the only judge I need to worry about throughout my life. 

Feel free to check out this beautiful video on bullying by JessicaLailah

<3